College Football Playoff 2015-16: Predictions and Odds for Complete CFP Schedule

Sometimes it feels like there is a whole season between the end of the regular one and the final bowl matchups, but the College Football Playoff games will be here before we know it.

Players on the Top Four teams in the land have less than three weeks to prepare for the games of their lives as they try to win the second annual CFP National Championship.

Before they reach that game, each will have to win a semifinal matchup that will be no easy task. Here's a look at the CFP schedule, odds, projected winners and a few other predictions for the games:

Date	Time (ET)	TV	Bowl	Matchup	Odds	Projected Winner
Dec. 31	4 p.m.	ESPN	Orange Bowl	No.1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Oklahoma	Oklahoma -4	Oklahoma
Dec. 31	8 p.m.	ESPN	Cotton Bowl	No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Michigan State	Alabama -9.5	Alabama
Jan. 11	8:30 p.m.	ESPN	National Championship	TBA	TBA	N/A

Derrick Henry Will Be the Difference in the Cotton Bowl 

OK, so this isn't exactly going out on a limb, but it's something that has to happen in order for the Alabama Crimson Tide to defeat the Michigan State Spartans.

Henry never carried the ball fewer than 22 times in SEC play, and he had 90 carries the past two weeks. Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin likes using him, and why not?

The 2015 Heisman Trophy winner has 1,986 yards and 23 touchdowns, which broke an SEC single-season record, according to ESPN Stats & Info:

The trick is going to be continuing that success against the seventh-ranked defense in terms of rushing yards allowed per game in the Spartans.

He has proved that no task is impossible, rushing for 147 yards against the No. 4 rush defense in the Wisconsin Badgers and 189 against a Florida Gators rush defense ranked 18th.

It's important for Alabama that Henry finds a way to control the pace of the game, per Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press: "Henry is a 6'3'', 242-pound junior with speed and power, and he sets up a passing game that can make big plays but has not been consistent."

If Henry is not on his game, the Crimson Tide will have to rely on an average passing game led by quarterback Jake Coker. The senior has thrown for 2,489 yards, 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The Spartans defense is not as stout against the pass. It's ranked 73rd and has allowed 18 touchdowns through the air.

There is a good chance Henry has his typical game, but make no mistake he will have at least 30 carries if healthy. It will be enough to carry the Tide to a close victory over the Spartans. 

Prediction: Alabama, 24-20

Defense Optional in the Orange Bowl

Neither the Clemson Tigers nor Oklahoma Sooners have terrible defense—ranked 18th and 21st respectively in points allowed—but this game will be more about their high-scoring offenses.

The Sooners score the third-most points per game in the country at 48.5 and have averaged nearly 53 per contest during a current seven-game win streak.

ESPN analyst Jesse Palmer said that alone is enough to declare Oklahoma the favorite in the game, per Bleacher Report SXM: 

David Hale of ESPN.com put Palmer's words into numbers:

As you can see, the Clemson offense isn't far behind. 

Heisman finalist Deshaun Watson has quarterbacked an offense ranked 15th in the country at 38.5 points per game.

He also joined elite company in the ACC after an impressive season, per ESPN Stats & Info:

The Orange Bowl will be full of high-flying offensive plays as much as the Cotton Bowl will be an old-school, smashmouth matchup.

Watson has had an unbelievable season, but the Sooners are a team no defense wants to face right now. Clemson's offense should be able to keep it close, but Oklahoma wins a shootout.

Prediction: Oklahoma, 35-31